Bottle capping mechanism



March o. N. TEVANDER ET AL 2,

BOTTLE CAPPING MECHANISM Fil ed June 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 23, 1937. o. N. TEVANDER ET AL BOTTLE CAPPING MECHANI SM Fil ed June 3, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet? .I/YI/EN roe; and r [fins 516/ ff 517M 09 MW/WWW March 23, 1937- o. N. TEVANDER ET AL 7 2,074,815

BOTTLE CAPPING MEGHANI SM Filed June 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Arraews Y5 March 1937 o. N. TEVANDER ET AL I 2,074,815:

BOTTLE CAPPING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 3, 1931 E Ii //////////////I4 I 4 (finsfiaa 1 fifmiog Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,074,815 BOTTLE CAPPING MECHANISM Olof N. Tevander and Christian 11. Brlnton, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Standard Cap and Seal Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Virginia Application June 3, 1931, Serial No. 541,773

25 Claims. (Cl. 22688.1)

. This invention relates to a method and means for periodically serving or delivering objects and particularly to a method and means for selectively discharging the same.

The'invention contemplates the provision of means and apparatus for selectively serving caps or closures to containers, for example, milk bottles, subsequent to the filling operation wherein the entire process of applying the closures to the bottles is entirely automatic.

The invention further embraces the provision of a mechanism of this character in which the presence of a closure or predetermined number of closures in a serving device will automatically l5 temporarily prevent the delivering of additional closures to the serving means pending a subsequent disposition of one or more of the closures in the serving device.

I The invention embraces the provision of a ma- 20 chine of unitary construction which may be used with or incorporated in any container or bottle filling mechanism and which may be disposed for use at any particular step or stage in the process without inerrupting any of the other steps in 25 the process. I 1

Another object is the provision of a machine of this character which is adapted and readily adjustable for use in applying closures to various types and sizes of container A further object of the invention is the provision of improved and reliable means for selectively manipulating closures or other objects from a source of supply whereby-the same are subsequently and automatically applied to con- 5 tainers.

" Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to'various details of 40 construction and to combinatlons'of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawings of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which: Figured is aside elevational view of the apparatus of our invention illustrated as used for applying closures to the mouths of bottles;

50 Figure 2 is an end view of the machine, the parts being in section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary viewoi' a portion of the supply chute showing a plurality of nested caps or closures therein;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the l ne 4-4of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailcsectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1: m Figure 6 is a detail sectional view through the cap actuating mechanism taken on the line 8-4 of Figure 5;

- Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 1--1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 5 Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view through the extremity of the cap serving device showing the mechanism therein; Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail view showing part of the operating mechanism of my invention;

Figure 11 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line Hll of Figure 1 particularly illustrating the cap serving chute and its associated mechanism;

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view through the cap supply chute taken upon the line l2'--l2 of Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line l3-l3 of Figure 9;

Figure 14 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the cap serving mechanism, the section being taken substantially on the line l4-I4 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a perspective view showing one of the skirted closures or caps particularly adapted for use in the embodiment of our invention as illustrated.

We have illustrated one form of our invention particularly adapted for use in serving or applying skirted caps or closures which may be of paper, fiber or other suitable material to milk bottles or other containers, but it is to be understood that ourinvention is susceptible of use with .any mechanism where it is desired toselectively or periodically deliver one or more objects for various other purposes, and that the embodiment herein shown and described, is illustrative only of one use to which our invention may be employed. 1

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device of our invention is constructed as an adjustable or portable unit and comprises a-frame member In secured to a vertically movable cylindrical member l2, the latter acting as a support for the complete structure. The member I! is slidable vertically in a tubular supporting pillar l3 preferably carried upon a suitable support or base IS, the container filling machine with which our invention may be associated not being shown. The member I2 is provided with a longitudinal axially parallel groove l6 into which projects a member "for preventing rotation of, but permitting vertical sliding'movement of member I2. The means for adjusting the structure comprises a screw shaft I9 positioned axially of the member I! having threaded engagement with a correspondingly threaded bushing carried in a support 2| forming a part of the pillar support l3. The upper extremity of the shaft is is journalled in a suitable bushing 22 fixed in the upper extremity of the member l2, the shaft also being provided with a fixed collar 24 which supports an anti-friction bearing 25, the latter adapted to absorb the thrust set up by the weight of the structure carried by the member i2. Fixed to the upper extremity of the shaft I0 is a bevel gear 26 meshing with a similar gear 21, the latter fixed upon one end of a stub shaft 20-.iournalled "for rotation in a hub portion 28 forming an integral part of the frame 10, the outer extremity of the shaft being squared 'or otherwise formed to receive an operating crank (not shown). In the embodiment illustrated rotation of the stub shaft and corresponding rotation of shaft i9 through the gears 28 and 21 will elevate or lower the member l2 and the structure carried thereby with respect to the conveyer mechanism C, a

20 portion of the conveyer being supported by a pro- Jecting bracket l0 formed upon pillar II, this adjustment being particularly advantageous in rendering the machine adaptable for use in cap- 25 ping bottles or containers of various heights.

part of frame l0, isa motor 0| which is preferably electrically operated and furnishes the source of power to actuate mechanism to be herei-nafter described. I The motor 3| is provided with a. shaft :2 upon whichis mounted a pulley :3

adapted to be connected by means of a flexible belt 34 to drive a pulley 0B, the latter being connected to operate a pneumatic or vacuum producing pump .00 which is used for purposes to be later explained, the pump having inlet and discharge pipes 31 and 38 respectively.

Mountedupon an arm l4, preferably forming an integral part of member I0, is a bracket 4! which forms a suitable support for a cap delivery or serving chute 42 and a magazine or cap supply chute 44. The magazine 44 particularly illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive is preferably channel shaped and inclined as illustrated in Figure 1. The caps designated 5 are positioned in nested formation as particularly illustrated in Figures 3 and 8, the uppermost cap being engaged by a substantially cylindrical weight 40 having a guiding member 41 to prevent relative rotation thereof in the channel 44-, this weight serving to force the caps downwardly into engagement with the cap manipulating or withdrawing mechanism to be hereinafter described.

Positioned adjacent the lower extremity of the chute 44 and embracing the same is an irregular shaped sleeve like member I. which supports a plurality of resilient fingers I2 fixedly secured at their upper ends by means of clamps 53 held in place by screws 04, the lower ends of the fingers flaring inwardly and having serrated ex- 110 tremities adapted for engagement with the lowermost caps in the channel 44. The tension or inherent-fiexure in the strips 52 servesto urge them to their'innermost position toward the axis of movement of the caps 0, the inward movement of the members 02 being limited by means of stop members 55 engageable with adjustable screws 56. If it is desired to adjust the innermost limited movement of the arms I2, it isonly necessary to change the relative positions of screws 00 to effect such an adjustment. Certain of the strips or fingers 52 are of different lengths which dif-.

ference in lengths serves a very important function in the successive feeding of caps to the chute or cap server 42, as the lowermost cap of .76 the series will be engaged by the longest of Mounted upon an arm Ii, forming an integral arm I04.

strips 52, thus leaving the shorter strips to engage the next succeeding cap to prevent a withdrawal of more than one cap with each operation pf the cap withdrawal plunger 80.

We have provided novel and effective means for selectively and periodically withdrawing caps from the chute 44 to be deposited in the inclined serving chute 42. This mechanism comprises a reciprocable plunger 00, the upper extremity being provided with a fitting 02; the latter supporting a conicaliy shaped flexible or yielding member 63, formed of rubber or other suitable material and utilized in a manner to be hereinafter explained. The fitting 62 and plunger are provided with communicating bores 04 and 85, the latter bore terminating in a transverse opening 66 which is adapted to periodically register with an opening 01 in the wall of the plunger guiding means 89, the opening 61 being connected to the inlet pipe 01 of the pump 00.

Fixed to the plunger 60 is a transversely projecting pin or tenon 10 carrying a roller II which is received into an irregular shaped cam slot 12 formed in a member 13, the latter being pinned as at 14 or otherwise secured to the projecting end of a shaft 15 joumalled in a bearing Ii-fixed in the lower extremity of a reciprocable member 11 slidably mounted in guide ways 10.

Member 11 is provided with a transversely projecting stub shaft 00 pinned or otherwise secured thereto as at 0 I, Surrounding the projecting portion of the shaft 00 is a bushing 02 of suitable anti-friction material which forms a bearing for connecting the lower extremity of a pitman or: connecting link 03 thereto, the pitman being retained on the bearing 02 by means of an enlarged head 84 formed upon the outermost end of the stub shaft 80, the upper end of the pitman 83 being suitably journalled upon a pin 05 fixed in a disc-like cam member 01, the latter in turn being fixed upon one end of a shaft 08 :Iournalled in bearings 09 supported in a portion of the frame 00 of the machine. The shaft 00 is rotated by means of a worm wheel 0| fixedly secured thereto, the worm wheel meshing with 'an actuating worm 02, carried upon the motor shaft 32 which is actuated by the motor 3|. It will be obvious from the foregoing that the normal vertical reciprocatory movement of plunger 00 and member 11 is equal to twice the distance from the axis of shaft 00 to the axis of shaft 00.

'We have provided means whereby the feeding of cap's from chute 44 into the serving chute 42 will be interrupted when there is a predetermined number of caps in the serving chute 42 arising by reason of the fact that the number of bottles B travelling on'the conveyer C are insufilcient in number to withdraw the caps fed into the chute 42 as rapidly as the mechanism can normally feed the caps to the serving chute. To this end the reciprocating cap feeding mechanism is, therefore, preferably controlled by means of the number of caps in the chute 42 through the medium of a pad I00 adjustably supported upon the end of an arm I02 fixed to a shaft 05 journalled in bearings 06 carried by the frame of chute 42'. Fixed to shaft is a depending arm I00 carrying at its extremity a member 80 of fiber or other suitable sound damping material which is adapted iggbe intermittently or periodically engaged by the hook like extremity I05 of The arm I04 is secured to a squared portion 00 of shaft 15 and is held in place by means of a spring I01 whose tension may be adjd'sted by means of a nut Ill carried upon a threaded extension I9 of shaft I5, the spring acting to hold arm I04 in place and to take up any lost motion between-the parts As illustrated in Figure 10, when a cap is positioned beneath pad I00, the arm I03 is retained out of the path of the hook portion I06 of arm 104. The maximum uppermost extent of movement of plunger 60 by reason of rotation of the cam 81 acting through pitman 03 will not be sufficientto bring the flexible cup member 63 into engagement with the lowermost cap of a series of caps contained in the supply chute 44 so that a withdrawal of the cap will not be accomplished. The withdrawal of the cap is accomplished only when the arm I03 engages the hook portion I05 of arm I04, thus rotating the cam member I3 about the axis of shaft I5 to cause an actual municate by means of a tube 31 to one side of a pump 36 or other suitable means for producing a normally reduced pressure, i. e.; creating a partial vacuum as compared with atmospheric pres sure. This vacuum or reduced pressure is communicated to bore 66 when the plunger 60 has been moved to its uppermost position in which the bore 66 registers with the bore 61 whereby the pressure within. the bore 64 is materially reduced and the atmospheric pressure associated upon the upper surface of the lowermost cap in engagement with the flexible member 63 causes the latter to be gripped to the member 63 so that when the latter moves downwardly. the cap will be moved therewith until one portion of the edge of the cap skirt engages a member 6I arranged in the r serving chute 42, which member causes the cap to 'be tipped or inclined, in which position the plungerhas reached the point wherein the passage 66 registers or communicates with a vent opening 68 in the wall of the member 6| so that the pressure within the openings or bores in the plunger 60 and associated parts is immediately raised to atmospheric, the equalization of pressure and the inclination of the cap automatically releasing the latter from engagement with the flexible member 63, thus positioning the cap within the upper end of the serving chute 42.

The equalization of pressure within the bores in the plunger 60 takes place before the latter has moved to its lowermost position asillustrated in Figure 5, and out of the path of the cap previously deposited by the plunger in the serving chute 42. A tube 38 is associated with the exhaust side of the pump 36 so that a jet of air is extruded through an opening I09 into the serving chute 42 and drives the prepositioned cap downwardly toward the discharge mouth of the chute. The opening I09 as illustrated is a notch in the wall of the tube 38, the lower end of the tubeibeing bent down as at I I0 so that the excess ,air instead of being discharged into the chute 42, passes downwardly through the portion I I0 exteriorly of the chute 42.

The mechanism for discharging the caps from the serving chute and placing the same upon the bottles B is particularly illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 9, 11; 13 and 14. The walls of the extremity of the chute 42 are enlarged as at I25; and to the respective side walls of which are piv-- oted, as at I2I, wing-like members I22 having curved portions I23 which are adapted to engage the neck portion of the bottles B as they pass under the cap applying means. These wing-like members I22 are preferably held in their inner most positions by means of the comparatively light tension of a spring I25.

The members I22 serve a dual purpose of not only positioning the bottles properly in the path of the cap aflixing or applying means, but also to release the caps as they are engaged by the moving bottles. A pad-like member I26 is piv-. oted as at I21 and has a forwardly extending horizontal portion I28 which pivots in a counterclockwise direction duringthe application of a cap to the bottle. The pivotal motion of member I26 is limited by means of a stop I29'engaging an upwardly projecting portion I30 of the pad member I26. The normal opening movement of mem bers I22 may be regulated by means of adjustable stub screws I32.

Operation The bottles which have been previously filled and ready for capping are transferred from the filling machine (not shown) by means of a conveyer C travelling beneath the serving chute 42.

Each successively arranged bottle is moved by the conveyer into contact with the wing-like members I22 and should the bottles upon the conveyer be slightly out of alignment with the axis of the serving chute 42, the members I22 will move the bottles to a central position upon the conveyer. Further movement of the conveyer carries the bottle to a position wherein the forward upper portion or neck of the bottle engages one of theskirts or depending portions of a cap 5 causing the latter to be deposited upon the mouth of the bottle, the cap being released by'the outward movement of the members I22 as the bottle moves therebetween. The horizontal portion I28 of the pad member I26 is caused to pivot counter-clockwise and presses the skirted cap 5 .upon the bottle B thus completing the cap applying operation.

With particular reference to Figure L the discharge of a cap 5 upon a bottle permits the series of caps in the chute 42 to slide downwardly until the rearmost cap of the series has passed from beneath the pad I00. When this takes place, spring IOI- acts to swing arm I02 downwardly thus moving the arm I 03 into the path of recipro-- It is to be understood that the motor 3| is constantly actuating the cation ofthe arm I04.

vacuum producing pump 36 and the cam 81 which constantly causes a reciprocatory movement of member I1 and plunger 60, the normal reciprocatory movement of plunger 60 however beinginsuificient to carry the member 63 into engagement with a cap in the chute 44. The clockwise movement ofarm I02, however, brings member I03 into engagement with the hook portion I05 of arm I04 causing a partial rotation of cam member I3 about the axis of shaft to thereby cause an increased uppermost reciprocatory movement of plunger 60 to a point such that member 63 is caused to engage a cap in supply chute 44 and the bore 66 to register with the passage 61 so as to create a normally reduced pressure or partial vacuum beneath the lowermost cap 5 and the member 63. Continued rotation of the cam 6'! moves plunger"60 downwardly carrying the cap into the upper end of the chute 42. As soon as bore 68 registers with the vent opening 68, and one edge of the cap engages the member 69, the pressure between member 63 and the cap is equalized, i. e., brought to normal atmospheric pressure, thus effecting a release of the cap from the member 63.

The exhaust air from the pump 36 passing downwardly through; tube 30 moves the cap downwardly intothe serving chute 42 after the plunger 50 and member 63 have been moved downwardly out of the chute l2. Simultaneously with the equalization of pressure in member 63 to release a cap projection, the high or raised portion of cam 81 engages roller I06 carried by an arm 94 fixed to a projecting portion of a shaft 95 which forms the pivotal support for the arm I02, thus raising the latter to permit the discharged cap to pass under the pad I00. After the cam has moved through a predetermined angular relationship with respect to the reciprocatory plunger 60, roller I06 lsireed of engagement with cam 81 such .that pad I carried by arm ill! will rest upon the cap under the influence of spring "II, the portion I03 being held out of the path of arm f as long as there is a cap beneath pad lllll'so that further discharge of caps from the supply chute 44 into the serving chute 42 will be prevented as long as there is a cap under pad I".

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention modifications and diflerent arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What we claim is:

1. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination, means for retaining a plurality of articles; mechanical means for removing articles from said retaining means; pneumatic means for rendering said mechanical means effective; and pneumatic means for imparting further movement to said articles.

2. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination, means for retaining a plurality of skirted articles; a delivery chute; combined mechanical and pneumatic'means for moving said articles longitudinally of saidretaining means; and pneumatic means to move said articles in said chute.

3. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination, means for retaining an article; a delivery chute; a member adapted for engagement with said article; a constantlyoperative source of normally reduced pressure and means for periodically connecting said source, of 9. normally reduced pressure with said member for transpositioning said article from said article retaining means to said delivery chute.

4. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination, means including a plurality of adjustable springs of different lengths for retaining a plurality of articles having laterally projecting portions; a member adapted for selective engagement with the surface bounded by said projecting portions; and means for utilizing a normally reduced pressure cooperating with said member for selectively transpositioning said articles.

5. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination, means including a plurality of resilient elements of different lengths for retaining a plurality of hood shaped articles, the depending portion of said art les extending toward a transpositioning mechanism associated therewith; means utilizing a normally reduced pressure for selectively transpositioning said articles; and means for periodically rendering said article transpositioning means ineffective.

6. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination, means for retaining a plurality of articles; a chute; intermittently operative mechanical and continuously operative pneumatic means for selectively transpositioning said articles from said retaining means to said chute; and means in said chute for rendering said article transpositioning means ineffective.

7. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination, means for retaining an article; a member adapted for engagement with said article; a chute adjacent to said member; and

means for utilizing a normally reduced pressure,

cooperating with said member for transpositioning said article from said retaining means to said chute; means to disconnect said normally reduced pressure from said member whereby said article is released from engagement with said member and deposited in said chute upon predetermined movement oi. said member; and means to initiate the movement of said articles in said chute.

8. In a device of the character disclosed, in

combination, means for retaining a plurality of articles; a flexible member; means for moving said flexible member into successive engagement with said articles; and means periodically utilizing continuously operative normally reduced pressure connected with said flexible member for selectively transpositioning said articles, said last named means being controlled by the repositioned articles for eiIecting the periodic operative connection between said flexible member and the normally reduced pressure.

9. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination, means for retaining a plurality of articles; a flexible member; means for moving I said flexible member into successive engagement with said articles; means utilizing continuously operative normally reduced pressure in cooperation with said flexible member for selectively transpositioning said articles; and means controlled by the repositioned articles for periodically disconnecting said reduced pressure from said flexible member for rendering said article transpositioning means ineffective.

10. In a device of the character disclosed; in combination, means for retaining a plurality of superimposed articles having laterally projecting portions; a delivery chute; a member adapted to selectivelyengage said articles; means utilizing a normally reduced pressure to cause one of said articles to adhere to said member; means to move said member and said article relative tosaid retaining means to a position in said delivery chute and in axial alignment with said retaining means; means to disconnect said reduced pressure from said member to release said article from said member; and means to initiate the movement of said articles in said chute.

11. In a device of the character disclosed, in

combination, means for retaining a supply of normally reduced pressure cooperating with said member for selectively depositing said articles in a serving chute; means for moving said articles transpositioning means inefiective.

13. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination, a supply chute for retaininga plurality of nested articles; a member; a source of normally reduced pressure cooperating with said member for selectively depositing said articles in a serving chute; means for moving said articles to a predetermined position in said serving chute; means controlled by the number of.

articles in said serving chute for rendering said article transpositioning means ineffective; and means for initiating the operationof said article transpositioning means upon release of an article a from said serving'chute.

, 14. In a device of the character disclosed, in

combination, means for retaining a plurality of articles; a source of continuous reduced pressure; 1 a reciprocable member adapted to be brought into engagement with said articles; means associated with 'said member .for intermittently connecting said source of reduced pressure withsaid member for engaging one of said articles; means controlled by an article in said device to move said member and said articles with respect to said retaining means; means for ment with 'the interior of said hood caps; means ing said hood cap from said member and pneuassociated with said member for intermittently connecting said source of normally reduced pressure with said member and said flexible element for engaging one of said hood caps; means to move said member and said hood cap with respect to said retaining means; means for releasmatic means for subsequently moving therepositioned hood caps to another position.

16. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination, means for retaining a plurality of articles; a movable member adjacent to said retaining means; a source of normally reduced pressure intermittently connected with said mem-' her for engaging said articles; stationary means in the path of movement of said member cooperating to release said articlesfrom said member upon continued movement of said member; and

pneumatic means for subsequently moving released articles to another position.

1'7. In a device of the class described, a magasaid zln'e for receiving a plurality oi separable nested articles; and resilient means for retainingjsaid nested articles in said magazine comprising: releasable spring means for retaining one 'only'of said articles adjacent one end of said magazine and separate releasable spring means of difierent lengths for engaging the remainder of said articles, and means to vary the initial tension of said spring means.

18. In a device of the class described; the combination of a magazine for receiving a stack of articles adapted to be successively withdrawn therefrom and a plurality of movable spring fingers of different lengths, certain of said fingers engaging the lowermost article of said stack and other fingers engaging the next article thereof,

and means to vary the initial tension of said spring fingers.

19. In a device of the character disclosed, in combination; means for retaining a plurality of articles; means to produce a source of normally reduced pressure, including a continuous suction means having an exhaust; a reciprocable member adapted to be brought into engagement with said articles; means associated with said member for intermittently connecting said source of normally reduced pressure with said member for engaging one of said articles; means to move said member and said articles with respect to said retaining means, and means for utilizing said exhaust for releasing said articles from said member. I q

20. In combination, a support for a stack of closures; achute; a member for selectively removing aclosure from said support and delivering it to said chute; a source of reduced pressure to render said member efiective; a closure actuated member for controlling said reduced pressure said vacuum means; means for delivering coni tainers adjacent said chute; and means actuated by a container to release a closure from said chute. I

22. In combination, a support for a stack of closures; a chute; pneumatic means for selectivelyengaging one of said closures for delivery to said chute; and means actuated by a predetermined number -of closures in said chute for rendering said pneumatic means ineffective. 23. In combination, a support for a stack of closures; a chute; pneumatic means for selectively transpositioning said closures; spring fingers ,;,associated with said support to permit a single closure to be released upon eifective operation of said pneumatic means; mechanical means rendered eflfective by the absence of a closure in said chute for controlling said pneumatic means; and means adjacent the termination of said chute allowing a closure to be released therefrom.

x 24. In a device of the character disclosed, in

OLQIE' N. TEVANDER. CHRIS'I'IAN H. BRINTON. 

